St. Mariana was a hermitess and is known as the “Lily of Quito,” Ecuador.  She was born Mariana de Paredes and called herself Mariana of Jesus.  Born in Quito, she was a hermitess in her brother-in-law’s residence.  She was a Third Order Franciscan and is particularly venerated by other tertiaries.  Orphaned at a very young age, she was raised by her older...

St. Augustine of Canterbury (d. 604 A.D.), also known as St. Austin, was prior of a monastery in Rome before being called by Pope Gregory the Great to be a missionary to the British Isles. The Pope received word that the pagans of Britain would embrace the faith in great numbers if priests were sent to teach them, and previous missionaries had been unsuccessful in the holy endeavor. In order...

St. Philip Neri (1515–1595) was born in Florence, Italy, to the noble class. He was a dutiful child with a cheerful disposition, making him popular with all who knew him. At the age of 18 he was to begin an apprenticeship for career in business, but, after having a mystical experience, his life was radically changed. He traveled to Rome and entrusted himself completely to God's...

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi was born at Florence, Italy, on April 2, 1566. She was christened Caterina, but in the family was called Lucrezia, out of respect for her paternal grandmother, Lucrezia Mannucci. Even as a girl Caterina was attracted to prayer, solitude, and penance. At the age of nine Pazzi was taught how to meditate by the family chaplain, using a recently published work...

St. Simeon Stylites the Younger (521-596 A.D.) was born in Antioch in ancient Syria (present-day Turkey). Like his namesake and predecessor, Simeon was drawn from a young age to a life of penance and austerity out of his great love for God. His mother was considered a saint. As a young boy he attached himself to a monastery of hermits. Their spiritual director, John, lived night and day at the...